Butler hospital partners with UPMC, Highmark

March 27, 2013News Extra

Butler Health System is partnering with UPMC and Highmark for two new, but separate ventures.

The health system announced that it will work with the UPMC CancerCenter to form a joint program for radiation oncology and it will partner with Highmark to bring additional services for the care of neurological diseases.

Jana Panther, a BHS spokeswoman, said that the health system will continue to accept both UPMC and Highmark insurance from patients.

Under the UPMC agreement, BHS and UPMC bought Butler Radiation Oncology Associates in Butler Township, which will remain open. Two oncologists from the practice, Drs. Victor Onufrey and Hung-Chi Ho, work for BHS.

Patients now will have access to those two doctors and to UPMC doctors, clinical trials and expertise, and much of that will be in Butler.

The agreement with Highmark will form the PA Brain and Spine Institute, which will be an exclusive partnership between Highmark and BHS.

This will provide care for patients with complex neurosurgical needs, such as spine abnormalities, degenerative diseases, nervous system abnormalities and conditions such as stroke, cranial nerve disorders and hydrocephalus.

Patients can get treatment for neurological diseases and injuries in Butler County from two new surgeons, Michael Horowitz and Richard Spiro.